Method for handling a plurality of yarns



Irwewtovs: Hagden B. Rhine,

Ehi Le Their Afwoeg.

United States Patent-Oiiice METHoDFoR HANDLING'A PLURALITY` onYAnNs l 'Y n Hayden B. Kline, shaker Heights, and Eli vI.ev`y,cleve land, Ohio, assiguors to Industrial Rayon ICorporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware A licatiou Febru 12 1954 Serial No.409'802 'i' y Pp ary i" .r to ibackl up and thereby group its` constituent filaments. "i Oncet-he filaments-are grouped they are then `placedonto 7 claims. `(Cl. A574157)' This invention relates `tota method for handling a` plurality of yarns as a single helix over a yarn-storing, yarn-advancing device; orin a continuous manner over a plurality of yarn-storing and.yarn-advancingfdevicest., More particularly, the invention relates to a method for. handling a plurality of:yarns (at least two), initially, separately formed, but thereafter'` conducted as aiuntary. bundle or. strand, over a yarn-storing, yarn-advancing device Vor a plurality of .such devices in the form of a helix subjected to one or more treatments, thenseparated,v and collected as individual yarns. z 1 i Generally, in the manufacture of viscose 'rayon by the continuous process, it Vis the custom to forn1- and then after-treat a single yarnV composed of lal plurality .of filaments. During processing, such a yarn isladvanced over a consecutive plurality of yarn-storing and advancing reels in the form of ahelix. .While in theform ofa helix, various after-treatments are applied to the .yarn to finally yield a product having desired characteristics. Thus, yarn is spun, after-treated, and collected as asingle yarn.; It would, of course, be advantageous and economical to spin or handle a plurality of` separate yarns as a single strand over the same yarn-storing, yarnadvancing reels. l

'i `Various methods have been suggested forthe handling of a plurality of yarns over the samehelix: formingand advancing reels. Generally all ofthese.proposals'jteach reel the running strand is `separated into the lindividual- Patented May 26, 1959 yarns which are separately collected. The separation of@` the yarns is generally quickly etected by a vcontainment o f .the ytwist in eachof the yarns forminglthegbundle-` A containment of the twist, or that pointy in a lengthfof by means of a pointed instrument (eg. a pin) thrust into a;rrnoving, running strand` which tends to individualize the yarns by drivingback or forcing the twist ineachyarn separate collecting means, and formedfinto respective:

packages.`

, -Thejinitial yarns may be spun andthe spinnerets rotated;`

to impart a.twist or, if desired, the yarn Asourcefmay inv the form of a unitary bundle or strand,l overa-reel is the ability of such -a strand to clear the reelof broken filaments, i.e. stray or fugitive filaments, and thusto re` duce yarn breakage. Where under normal circumstances a single yarn would be processed andfilaments, becolnlen brokenduring its helical travel over a reelI vthe broken filaments `would quickly build up to form a -wrap which would eventually break the yarn. Where a plurality ofyarnsare advanced vover a reeln then eachassists in carrying away or stripping ofi stray or broken filaments that the separate yarnsare maintained apart'andioutof i Contact with each other and that .nooverlapping "of turns should occur while beingadvancedover a reel.y These proposals show the utilization of additional and specific yarn guiding and handling devices usually'befor'e and after a reel, and provide that the reel itself should be of a critical construction so as to prevent an overlap of the separate yarns being advanced. Bundling of yarns by these proposals is @avoided because oft-,over-winding orunder-winding of the'` thread turns and resultant breakagen. u" 1 l In; accordance with thisinvention a plurality of yarns (two or more) ,are brought'together and advanced to' gether fas a substantially unitedsingle strand v.over one or more reels whereon it is subjectedyto one or more' treating steps. strand is then separatedsinto` its-original, constitutent,in dividual yarns, and :then,.collectedon separate collecting devices.- g-lnitially, and; prior ,to thegformation of a single strandeof the plurality offyarns, there is imparted artwist While running at its 'processingspeed .the 8";

to leach of ther yarns, or the yarnsmay already have a 1 inches of travel.

before causing complete breaks.

:"The advantages of this invention will become apparent from the `following detailed description and the accom.- panying drawing where: l

Figure 1 represents a continuous viscoserayon spinning apparatus adapted to handle a plurality `of yarns; and Figure 2 shows the adaptability of the apparatus `for handling a plurality of formed yarns for processing. v Referring to the drawing there is shown in abbreviated 19, 20, being Ydriven through gears 21, 22, 23, respec-l tively, by the common drive shaft 24. The formed-yarns 15, 16, 117. are twisted at the time of extrusion at a slow rate, a` turn may be imparted at about every200 to 600 then :passed about a rotating roll 25 supported in the trough. 13 `rotating at a :rate correlata@ @alle referat extrusion of the viscose solution and to the rate oftale-v up. of the yarns by the reel 26 positioned above .the trough 13. A Thethree twisted yarns 15, 16, 17 are led from thebath to the take-up reel 26, each being laid thereonlat about the same point on the reel surface to forma single enlarged yarn or strand for further advance in,..the.f0rmo f a helix. From reel 26 thestrand 28 is thenfledito and advanced over 4subsequent ,reels 29,-3Q-for. further processing, and thereafter it is divided into the individual yarns 15 16, 17. Upon leaving the drierreel 30 the strand 28 is passed through separating guides32, 33, V34

l and 35 to individual take-ups 37, 38, 39 where each is wound into apackage. l Y

The take-,up reel 26 and all subsequent reels29, 30, preferably are constructed on the principles disclosed in the jKnebusch Patent 2,210,914. `'Thread and'thelike are advanced over such reels inthe formY of helices The three separate twisted yarns are 4 depending upon- `the pitch between thread turns, present substantial lengths of thread .for processing. Although preference is indicated for the Knebusch reel, other reels, either of unitary construction or spaced and skewed rollers can be advantageously utilized, since each is adapted to form a store of thread in the shape of a helix for economical processi-ng;

The strand 28, formed of the three yarns 15, 16, 17, while on the reels 26, 29, 30 and while in the form of a helix, can be subjected to a desired liquid treatment or treatments that ordinarily are applied to viscose rayon yarns such as wash treatments, desulfurizing, bleaching, etc. .The treatments are generally applied through tubes 40, 41, 42, the liquids spreading over and blanketing the strand helix, each yarn being equally subjected to the treatment so that upon subsequent separation each will have uniform and similar final characteristics. liquid processing the final treatment on the strand is that of drying. As shown, drying of the strand 28 is performed on the last reel 30 through which steam is circulated. The strand 28 is then led through guide 32 beyond which it is divided into the individual yarns 15, 16, 17, each yarn being advanced to its respective collecting device 37, 38, 39, after rst passing through its respective guides 33, 34, 35.

'I The reason for imparting a twist into the yarns 15, 16, 17 'is to enable their separation after the strand 28 leaves the drier reel 30. One method successfully utilized to separate out the yarns is to thrust a sharp pointed instrument, such as a pin, into the travelling strand 28 to thus eiect a backing up of the twist, or forming a node, at thatpoint in the particular strand portion or in the particular yarn of said strand where it is pierced. This backed-up twist substantially immediately contains the twist and thus groups the filaments of the particular yarn as if tying them together by means of a knot. Another method is one where the composite strand is flattened while running over an arcuate or convex surface under a slight tension, the spread larnents are gathered or sorted by the twist into the component yarns and an interj`ectioi1 of a pin readily divides out the specific yarn. The individualized yarn is then temporarily passed to an air aspirator tube collecting device (not shown) leaving the operator free to efect the further division of the remainingtwo yarns. Oncea separation of the three yarns is elected they are then passed on to their winding or collecting devices.

It has been found that there exists a relationship between the running speed of the strand bundle and the number of turns of twist for separation purposes. In general, lower twists per unit length are employed at the higher strand speeds. Thus, for example, at strand speeds ofabout 60 to 100 meters per minute, speeds usually employed in continuous spinning and processing methods, it is advantageous to employ one twist in lengths ranging from about 200 inches to 600 inches. For speeds lower than 60 meters per minute or for about 20 to 50 meters one may employ a twist for a shorter running strand length, e.g. ranging from about 60 to 180 inches. AISO, a low twist advantageously permits the laying of the yarns, wliile in the strand, in a lgenerally parallel manner for more effective processing. Furthermore, a twist in the yarn also will tend to restrict Ibroken iilaments to the originall yarnbody as the strand passes over the reel. The remaining yarns in the strand also assist in helping to keep the reel clean of possible fugitive wraps;

InI Figure 2 of the drawing there is shown a modification of the source of supply of yarns which are formed into a strand for subsequent processingover a plurality of reels. Atleast three supply-packages 55, 56, 43 of fiat wound yarn are positioned in a creel` 44 (generally shown), The at wound yarn iswithdrawn over-end through guidesl 46, 47, 48 positioned ahead of them then through gathering guide 49 where the yarns are combined itora strand` 50 which is'led` through another guide 51 After Y onto a reel 52, and thence onto subsequent reels 53, etc. While on reels 52, 53, etc. the strand 50 can be subjected to various desired processing treatments then later separated into individual yarns 55, 56, 43 in the manner hereinbefore described, and wound on separate bobbins by separate collecting means. Where yarn is withdrawn from packages and the twist is more frequent the rate of strand travel is slower, lesser drawing speeds are necessary for purposes of later separation.

The process of the present invention may be employed for the treatment of continuous-filament yarns of all types-natural fibers, e.g. silk; artilicial bers, e.g. viscose rayon,l cellulose acetate or other regenerated cellulose iibers; and also synthetic fibers, e.g. those made from linear polyesters, polyamides or polyacrylics such as vinyl polymers or copolymers including those made from acrylonitrile. The new process is particularly suited to continuous-spinning methods where the extrusion and subsequent ib'erl processing is performed in a continuous sequence of operations such as in certain viscose rayon and cuprammonium methods. The process, however, is also advantageously suited to those methods where the spinning continuity is interrupted after the extrusion and coagulation step. Such spinning methods are usually employed in the melt and dry-spinning elds because the extrusion speed is far in excess of the speed at which the coagulated or solidified ber could be processed on threadadvancing devices. It is with these methods that the method of Figure 2 could be employed with advantage. Thus, .for example, a melt-spun polyester or polyamidey ber is tirstcolle'cted as a at yarn on a package at the rate: of about 1000 meters per minute. A plurality of.

' yar'ns fromV such packages, thereafter, can be subjected to one or more treatments on a series of thread-advancing' this invention are, applying regenerating or purifyingA liquids, washing with water to remove impurities; stretching, bleaching, dyeing, applying iinishing or sizing materials, and drying. In the processing and after-treatment of viscose rayon which has `been extruded into an acid coagulating bath, are the steps of dilute acid regeneration, stretching, washing with water, desulfurizing, bleaching, oiling and drying.

`By combining several yarns into a strand and processing them while in strand form low denier yarns advantageously can be spun and processed more economically on a continuous apparatus. A plurality of low denier yarns can' be thus more eiectively treated over a thread advancing reel and with lessstoppage for breaks than could be here-l tofore done. Further, a strand of low denier yarns can be advanced over'thread advancing devices without additional care in the design of reels that are ordinarily required for the processing of yarns. While the invention has been described with reference to an apparatus processing three yarns in a strand it is not, of course, limited to that number and more than three can be readily handled in as advantageous a manner.

What is claimed is:

1. The. method for handling a plurality of yarns for processing in the form of a helix, each of said yarns of said plurality Ihaving a twist, the steps comprising; bringing together as a single strand at least two separately twisted yarns; forming a helix of said strand; advancing saidl strand through said helix while subjecting it to a yarn'treatment; passing said treated strand through said helix; separating said strand into the original constituent yarns by backing up the twist; and collecting said yarns into separate packages.

2. The method for handling a plurality of yarns for processing inthe form of a helix, each of said yarns of said`r plurality having a twist, the steps comprising; bringing together as a single strand a plurality of separate yarns each having a twistyforming a helix of said strand;

advancing said strand through said helix while subjecting it to a yarn treatment; separating said strand into the original constituent yarns by backing up the twist of each yarn and thereby :bringing together the constituent filaments corresponding to each of said plurality of yarns; and thereafter collecting said individual yarns into separate packages.

3. 'Ihe method for handling a plurality of yarns as a single strand for processing while in the form of a helix comprising; forming a plurality of separate yarns; imparting a twist to each of said plurality of yarns; bringing together said plurality of yarns as a single strand; forming a helix of said strand; rotating said helix and advancing said strand therethrough; subjecting said strand while in the helix to a yarn treatment; separating said strand after it has passed through said helix into the original constituent yarns by backing up the twist of each yarn and thereby bringing together the constituent filaments `corresponding to each of said plurality of yarns; and

thereafter collecting said individual yarns into separate packages.

4. The method for handling a plurality of yarns as a single strand for processing while in the form of a helix comprising; forming a plurality of separate yarns; imparting a low twist to each of said plurality of yarns; bringing together said plurality of yarns as a single strand; forming a helix of said strand; advancing said strand through said helix while subjecting it to a yarn treatment; separating said strand after it has passed through said helix into the original constituent yarns by backing up the twist of each yarn and thereby bringing together the constituent laments corresponding to each of said plurality of yarns; and thereafter collecting said individual yarns into separate packages.

5. The method for continuously spinning a plurality of yarns comprising; extruding a yarn forming solution from a plurality of sources; solidifying said extruded solution into yarns each having a plurality of filaments; imparting a twist to each of said formed yarns; combining said yarns into a single strand; forming a helix of said strand; rotating said helix and subjecting it to a yarn treat- Y 6 ment; dividing said strand after it has passed through said helix into original constituent yarns by backing up the twist of each yarn and thereby 4bringing together the constituent filaments corresponding to each of said plurality of yarns; and thereafter collecting said individual yarns into separate packages.

6. The method for continuously spinning viscose rayon comprising; extmding a viscose solution from a plurality of sources into an acid regenerating bath to form yarns;

imparting a twist to each of said yarns; combining said plurality of yarns having twist into a single strand; forming a helix of said strand; advancing said strand through said helix and meanwhile subjecting it to treatment; dividing said strand after it has passed through said helix into constituent separate yarns by containing the twist of each yarn and thereby bringing together the constituent filaments corresponding to each of said yarns; and thereafter collecting said yarns separately.

7. The method for continuously spinning viscose rayon comprising; extruding a viscose solution from a plurality of sources into an acid regenerating bath to form yarns; imparting a twist to each of said yarns; combining said plurality of yarns having a twist into a single strand; forming a plurality of successive helices of said strand and subjecting each of said helices to at least one processing treatment; the last treatment of said plurality of processing treatments being that of drying; dividing said strand after the drying treatment into the constituent separate yarns by containing the twist of each yarn and thereby bringing together the constituent filaments corresponding to each of said yarns; and thereafter collecting said yarns separately.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,046,670 Beattey July 7, 1936 2,108,285 Forrest Feb. 15, 1938 2,233,418 Kline et al. Mar. 4, 1941 2,276,208 Kline Mar. 10, 1942 2,623,240 McDermott Dec. 30, 1952 

